Federal authorities have identified the source of the firearm used in the fatal March 12 shooting at Old Dominion University. The gunman, Mohamed Jalloh, opened fire during an ROTC class, killing Lt. Col. Brandon Shah and injuring two others. Jalloh, who had a prior conviction for attempting to provide material support to ISIS, was on supervised release at the time of the attack and was killed during the incident. Investigators have arrested Kenya Chapman in connection with the illegal sale of the weapon, a .22 caliber Glock 44 with an altered serial number. According to court documents, Chapman sold the firearm to Jalloh for $100. While Chapman initially claimed he found the weapon in the woods, he later admitted to stealing it from a car in Newport News approximately a year ago. FBI agents seized the $100 bill as evidence and found matching ammunition during a search of an apartment in Smithfield where Chapman had been staying.
The case has drawn sharp criticism from high-ranking officials regarding previous law enforcement decisions. Records show the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) investigated Chapman in 2021 for straw purchasing but issued only a warning. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi criticized this prior leniency, suggesting that the failure to prosecute Chapman earlier allowed the tragedy to unfold. Representative Jen Kiggans also noted that the suspect was not a law-abiding citizen, highlighting the dangers of illegal gun trafficking.
Kenya Chapman now faces federal charges, including dealing firearms without a license and making false statements. FBI Director Kash Patel stated that the bureau remains committed to holding accountable anyone who puts weapons in the hands of terrorists. If convicted, Chapman faces a maximum penalty of 35 years in prison. The investigation into the Old Dominion University attack remains active as officials trace further leads.
